As Texas A&M (4-3, 2-2 SEC) emerges from their bye week, the stakes could not be higher as they seek to close out the season strong. On deck is South Carolina (2-5, 1-4 SEC), who, despite what their records suggest, will provide an ample challenge for an Aggies team that has been in a rut.
More accurately, it’s been A&M’s offense that has been stuck in the mud and in need of a spark. Truth be told, the Aggies couldn’t have asked for a better bounce-back opponent than the Gamecocks. South Carolina allows 31.7 PPG to their opponents, which ranks 114th in the country.
A&M is an early favorite by two touchdowns, which is somewhat generous given their offensive performances over the last two weeks. Nonetheless, if the Maroona and White hope to get back into the win column, it starts with scouting the opponent ahead.
Here’s a preview of Texas A&M’s Week 9 opponent, the South Carolina Gamecocks.
South Carolina Gamecocks
2023 Record: 2-5 (1-4 SEC)
Head coach: Shane Beamer
Beamer is in the midst of his third season with South Carolina, boasting a 17-16 record to date through 33 games. Beamer led the Gamecocks to a win in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in his first season while helping lead South Carolina to a 23rd-ranked finish in the final AP Top 25 poll last year.
Offensive leaders
QB Spencer Rattler
2023 stats: 70.8 completion percentage, 1,941 passing yards, 11 TD, 5 INTs
RB Mario Anderson
2023 stats: 396 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 47 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
WR Xavier Legette
2023 stats: 38 receptions, 736 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs
Rattler didn’t have the most stellar game when he last matched up with the Aggies, having completed just 48.0 percent of his passes for 168 yards without a touchdown. Still, A&M can’t afford to overlook his presence in the pocket, a theme Jimbo Fisher echoed in his weekly press conference.
As for the Gamecocks’ leading receiver, Legette was injured in the first half of last week’s loss to Missouri and did not return to the game. He remains questionable, which is significant given how he adds another dynamic threat to South Carolina’s offense.
Defensive leaders
DB Jalon Kilgore
2023 stats: 36 solo tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, 1 INT
DL T.J. Sanders
2023 stats: 14 solo tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three pass breakups
Kilgore will provide an ample test for the likes of Evan Stewart and Ainias Smith, who lead the Aggies’ receiving corps. The 6’1″ freshman leads the Gamecocks with 36 solo tackles and 4.5 pass deflections. Meanwhile, in the trenches, Sanders will be the name to watch as he faces what has been a porous Aggies offensive line in pass protection.
Sanders has 7.5 tackles for loss to his name and leads South Carolina’s defense with 4.5 sacks on his resume this season.
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